Ruth is from the remote village, Nanduguru in Lakipia District, Kenya.  Ruth lives with her parents and 7 siblings.  Most people in this village depend on livestock for their survival but Ruth’s parents have no jobs, no livestock and no farm to rely on.  Her older siblings did not get a chance to go to high school and also live at home with no jobs. When we asked Ruth how they get things to eat, she said that they borrow from people.  Ruth repeated her Grade 7 year with hopes of raising enough funds by the time she was in Grade 8 for high school.  However, this was not successful and it wasn’t until EIP was able to raise funds that she could attend school.

Gaining an education will be an escape from the cycle of poverty for Ruth.  Without a chance to go to school, Ruth would most likely be sold to marriage by her parents in exchange for cattle.  There is no day school currently near Ruth’s home so the cost for each year of boarding school for Ruth would be $430. Her family is not capable of raising these funds.